Like I said in a previous article, Liechtenstein is a small country and, apart from Vaduz, there is not much to do. However, if you are visiting this little European principality, Balzers is an interesting spot.
A Few Words About Balzers
The region of Balzers is located in the South of Liechtenstein, and it has different enclaves, not all united.
The place I visited is the small village of Balzers that has less than 5,000 residents. To get there, I took two buses from Triesenberg, but from the capital Vaduz, it’s only one bus. The country being quite small itself, the trip isn’t very long. You can also decide to hike from one city to another, or to cycle (depending on the season, obviously).
The main attraction in Balzers is its castle: the Gutenberg Castle.
The Gutenberg Castle
My bus left me right at the bottom of the castle. Perfect! Indeed, the Gutenberg Castle is built on a 70-metre-high hill. To see the castle from up close, you’ll need to walk a little. But, I promise, it is a nice walk, not even a hike, on a proper path. The site is quite cute, and is surrounded by vineyards.
Once there, you’ll have a beautiful view over the area and the mountains. If you’re hot, there’s a free water fountain inside the courtyard.
Important: most of the time, you cannot visit the castle! It is only open during the Summer months and you have to schedule your visit. From May until October, you can visit the rose garden on Sundays. All year long, the courtyard is open, and I still think it’s worth it.
What Else Can You See In Balzers?
Next to the castle, there is an interesting church: the Roman Catholic church of Saint-Nicholas. It’s right next to the beginning of the castle’s path.
Otherwise, I didn’t see anything particularly remarkable in the city. But if you like walking or cycling, it’s peaceful, charming and pleasant to explore. It always depends on what kind of trip you are planning on doing, if you want to take your time or only go to places with famous landmarks.
I feel like, to enjoy Liechtenstein, you have to take your time. It’s not a very touristy place, it’s a country to experience, more than to visit.
To see more photos of Liechtenstein, you can visit the gallery Liechtenstein.
